lpProcName

lpProcName is a parameter used in some programming contexts, particularly within the Windows API (Application Programming Interface). It typically signifies a pointer to a null-terminated string that represents the name of a process. This name is often used for identification or to locate a specific running program.

When you encounter lpProcName in a function signature, it indicates that the function expects to receive the address of a character array (a string) containing the process's name. This name could be an executable file name, such as "notepad.exe", or a more general identifier depending on the API's design. The "lp" prefix is a common convention in Windows API programming, standing for "long pointer," which historically referred to a 32-bit memory address.

Functions utilizing lpProcName might use it for tasks like finding a process handle, querying process information, or even terminating a specific process by its name. The null-terminated nature of the string means that the end of the name is marked by a character with a value of zero, allowing the function to determine where the string ends without needing a separate length parameter. Understanding lpProcName is crucial for developers working with Windows system-level programming and process management.